Myrtle (Myrt) Ruse-Obed, 95, passed away peacefully August 2, 2023 at Park Village Pines, Kalamazoo Michigan.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Coldwater, MI on Monday, August 7, 2023 at 10 :00 a.m. with a Celebration of Life service to be held at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Aaron Chittick officiating.
Interment will follow the service at Oak Grove Cemetery in Coldwater, MI.
Arrangements entrusted to Dutcher Funeral Home In Coldwater, MI.
Myrt was a force of nature. It’s hard to imagine that someone with her unlimited energy and passion could be gone. She was a fierce survivor and contributor to the end.
Myrt was a strong Christian who loved life and spread the message of Jesus to all she met. Her life was always dedicated to Christ and His good word. All who knew her saw this in her daily life. As her body failed, she was ready to be welcomed into the warm embrace of her Lord.
The second of three children, Myrtle was born on July 25, 1928 in Almena Wisconsin to Herman and Millie (Kunkel) Koser. Growing up in a hardworking German family, she was ready to move out into the world right after finishing high school. She met Paul Ruse on a blind date set up by her friend. Paul had recently returned from the navy in WWII. Things clicked and they were married on September 6, 1947 in Almena, Wisconsin. They would live in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa (for 20 years) before moving to Coldwater Michigan in 1971 as owners of WTVB/WNWN Radio.
After retirement they enjoyed traveling to spend time with family and winter in Florida. Paul passed suddenly in 1994. In 1997 she found a good partner to share her life with in Al Obed. They married and resided in Coldwater, Michigan until Al’s death in 2013. Myrt continued to live at home until recently residing at Park Village Pines in Kalamazoo.
To say she was a housewife and homemaker is a disservice to what it takes to raise 5 children, host foreign exchange students, and become a guardian to foster children. Stories of her challenges with preschool age boys on the roof while supposedly napping, or starting fires in the garage are part of the family lore. Of course, the girls were nothing but angels.
On top of that full time job, she worked with the family’s radio station business. She co-owned and worked from 1971-1981 at WTVB-WNWN with her husband Paul in Coldwater Michigan., and WBTU/WAWK from 1984-1987 in Kendallville, IN.
You can read all about her life in her self-published autobiography “Myrt’s Story” printed in 2008. It has a very limited printing, so finding a copy will be challenging.
She loved spending time with her family and always looked forward to the next get-together. Her family and grandkids cherished spending time baking special Scandinavian and German cookies as part of the continued family traditions.
No stranger to rolling up her sleeves, you could always count on Myrt and Paul to show up whenever a family member needed help with a remodeling project. She painted and wallpapered enough square footage to be a professional, not to mention the furniture stripping, painting, and refinishing, followed by sewing curtains and quilts to finish the projects.
Always busy helping others, her life revolved around volunteering at her church and other community organizations. Myrt was active in the Lutheran and Presbyterian churches in Coldwater. Just a few of her favorite ways of giving: as a volunteer at an orphanage in Haiti, volunteer at an Indian reservation in Arizona, spent time with Paul assisting the Billy Graham radio stations in Hawaii, teaching the Bethel series, Son Shine Gang at Maple Lawn, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, the Red Hat Society, Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School director, held weekly bible study at the Coldwater Women’s prison, survivor support for Hospice, Inner Healing Ministry for women, guest host to many actors from the Tibbits Opera House, provided a foster home for youth in need, and generously providing meals and hospitality to many.
Myrt was a voracious quilter, making 100’s of quilts for her family and homeless/women’s/children’s shelters. Time spent with her quilting group was always a joy.
She has very fond memories of the lifelong friends she made in Oelwein, Iowa who she lovingly referred to as “The Potluck Club”.
Myrt was honored as the Coldwater Optimist Club “Citizen the Year” in 2008.
Survivors include:Son, David and Mona Ruse of Kalamazoo, Michigan, son, Mike and Cindy Ruse of Auburn Indiana, son, Robert and Darilyn Ruse of Kendallville, Indiana, daughter, Kim Ruse Davidson of Salem, Virginia, daughter, Kirsten and Bruce Harris of Louisville, Kentucky, honorary son, Henning and Kirsten Vilhelmson of Denmark, grandchildren, Sara and Chris Duhn, Seth and Lodi Ruse, Luke and Sarah Ruse, Aaron and Katie Ruse, Emily and Doug Koch, Hannah and Zach Wilkinson, Kari and Chad Rathke, Zach and Rachel Ruse, Dane and Meagan Ruse, Jacob Davidson, Noah Davidson, Kirsti Davidson, Payton Harris, Caleb and Kelsey Harris, Blake and Sydney Harris, Tucker and Alyssa Harris. She was also honorary grandma to Abdul & Amro Ahmed, 19 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was proceeded in death by her parents Herman and Millie Koser, plus most of her generation; husband Paul Ruse, husband Al Obed, brother Ralph Koser, sister-in-law Lillian Koser and brother Bob Koser, brother-in-law James Ruse and sister-in-law Shirley Ruse. She is survived by her sister-in-law Marianne Koser.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Coldwater, MI on Monday, August 7, 2023 at 10am, with a Celebration of Life service to be held at 11am with Pastor Aaron Chittick officiating. Interment will follow the service at Oak Grove Cemetery in Coldwater, MI.
Arrangements entrusted to Dutcher Funeral Home In Coldwater, MI.
In lieu of flowers, please consider directing memorials to your choice of Myrt’s favorite charitable organizations: St Paul Lutheran Church in Coldwater, Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater, Michigan Right to Life, or Mercy Smiles International.
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